GIRISH KARNAD

 

From Sampath’s Desk:

 



GIRISH KARNAD (1938-2019)


The multifaceted actor, author, and playwright Girish Raghunath Karnad (81) passed away on 10.06.2019. Who can forget his roles in the TV serials ‘Malgudi Days’ (1986-1987) and ‘Swamy and friends’, based on the 1943 short story collection of RK Narayan.

 

Karnad worked in South Indian cinema in the initial stages and then in Bollywood too. He rose to prominence with his coming of age in modern Indian playwriting in Kannada. He was a recipient of the 1998 Jnanpith Award, the highest literary honour in India. He was also conferred with 'Padma Sri' and 'Padma Bhushan' besides several accolades for direction in Kannada films, among others.

 

Karnad, who often used history and mythology to tackle contemporary issues, had his works translated into different Indian languages, and helmed by directors like Ebrahim Alkazi, BV Karanth and Alyque Padamsee, among others. He had made his acting as well as screenwriting debut with a 1970 Kannada movie Samskara. The film, based on a novel by UR Ananthamurthy and directed by Pattabhirama Reddy, won the first President's Golden Lotus Award for Kannada cinema. His Hindi movies included Nishaant, Manthan, Swami, and Pukar. Karnad had acted in a number of Nagesh Kukunoor films, starting with Iqbal, in which he played the role of a ruthless Cricket Coach. This was followed by Dor, 8 x 10 Tasveer, and Aashayein. In 2012, he played the role of RAW chairman, Shenoy, in Salman Khan-starrer Ek Tha Tiger. He reprised his role of Shenoy in Tiger Zinda Hai.

 

He also hosted a weekly science magazine ‘Turning Point’ on Doordarshan in the early 1990s. Featuring Indian scientist Yash Pal, the award-winning show explained the complex modern scientific discoveries in simple language. Even as he aged, he continued to make public appearances at panel discussions and literature festivals to discuss his works.

 

(R.SAMPATH)

11.6.2019

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

KAVIGNAR (TAMIL POET) VAALI

Image
FROM SAMPATH’S DESK:         KAVIGNAR (TAMIL POET) VAALI ( வாலிப கவிஞர் வாலி) 29 October 1931-18 July 2013       Vaali Sir (T.S.RANGARAJAN) – born in Srirangam, Trichy, Tamil Nadu - was a great legendary Tamil-poet-cum-lyricist with a gift of the gab and pen, who had to his credit more than 15000 film songs and a host of other literary works, He was a contemporary of Kannadasan. His songs were thought-provoking, conscience-stirring, awareness-generating and highly inspiring. Yes, with his departure, a great saga of an eventful career of a distinguished lyricist spanning more than five decades has come to an end. The poetic circles, and the literary and tinsel worlds have become poorer by his passing. Transcending barriers including generations, he had offered something for everyone belonging to both old and new generations to remember and cherish forever. Vaali made his humble beginning, as is the wont with every writer, with a devoti...
Read more

THIRUMURUGA KRIPANANDA VARIYAR - திருமுருக கிருபானந்த வாரியார்

Image
  FROM SAMPATH’S DESK:       THIRUMURUGA KRIPANANDA VARIYAR திருமுருக கிருபானந்த வாரியார் (25 August 1906 - 7 November 1993)   THIRUMURUGA KRIPANANDA VARIYAR was born on 25.8.1906 in Kangeyanallur near Vellore, Tamil Nadu.   He sowed divinity in the minds of the common man and words contemplated upon were humorously conveyed by him so as to grip the minds of his audience. He was affectionately and reverently called VARIYAR SWAMIGAL by people.   He had no formal education. However, he was brought up by his father himself at home giving him core divine knowledge and wisdom. Swamigal learned Tamil literature, grammar, and music, especially playing Veena. At age 8 itself, he had to his credit many poems in ‘Venba’ style. By age 12, he learned by heart at least 10000 hymns, mostly devotional numbers.   During my boyhood days in Triplicane, I used to go to his divine and spiritual discourses. Tamil language and devotional hymns...
Read more

FEATHERS OF POSITIVE PHILOSOPHY!

Image
From Sampath’s Desk :     FEATHERS OF POSITIVE PHILOSOPHY!     The concept of ‘philosophy’ used here is about the empirical aspects of life such as - how to find joy and happiness generally and to keep ourselves cool and unperturbed, clothed with feathers of positive philosophy in the face of ordeals and distress. Again, on the one side, it is about feeling self-joy, and on the other, a solace-seeking exercise during trials and tribulations. Some tips have been attempted here.   If you happen to be rich in wealth and affluent, think that God has given you the extra wealth and money for helping others. The best way to find joy and happiness is to make others happy by charity without expecting anything in return much less gratitude. It is only the possessor of wealth who should be actually grateful to God for providing him/her the opportunity to help the needy. It is of course easier said than done, but the real joy lies in giving and in going to the succo...
Read more